Issue 01-09-2017

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is redefining the beauty shopping experience at many of its stores. As of the end of 2016, about 1,800 locations had been converted to the drug chain’s “Beauty Differentiation” concept. The strategy centers on three elements: enticing products, an engaging retail presentation and a level of service not typically seen in

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Meetings with vendors are a big part of Larry Gatta’s job. As Dollar General Corp.’s senior vice president and general merchandising manager for consumables, Gatta attends more than 75 joint business plan sessions a year. In these meetings, the retailer and its suppliers develop the strategies to drive productive sales and review

PHOENIX — Mark Panzer, senior vice president of pharmacy, health and wellness at Albertsons Cos., is leading his team and the industry in creating a singular destination for customers to take care of their health and wellness needs through their grocery and pharmacy stores. The goal is to raise the profile of the company’s health

ZAANDAM, Netherlands — The merger of Royal Ahold and the Delhaize Group always had a compelling logic behind it. The companies, with roots in the neighboring countries of Holland and Belgium, possessed complementary capabilities and geographic footprints, in both the European and American retail markets, as well as similar histories. Over the years, a variety

MEMPHIS — Fred’s Inc. has taken a huge step forward on its path toward becoming a major drug store chain by agreeing to buy 865 Rite Aid locations from Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) and Rite Aid Corp. for $950 million in cash. The transaction, which also includes certain assets related to store operations, is

DEERFIELD, Ill. — By agreeing to sell 865 Rite Aid stores to Fred’s Inc., Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Rite Aid Corp. have likely removed a major barrier to the approval and completion of their pending merger. The sale is, however, dependent on WBA first completing its acquisition of Rite Aid. The sale is a

NEW YORK — While neither the government nor individual retailers have issued their holiday or December sales figures yet, it looks like the 2016 holiday selling season may have seen the strongest growth since the mid-2000s. However, most of the excitement appears to have centered on e-commerce sales growth, and the big winner there, once

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — There was more bad news for Sears and Kmart as Sears announced last month another round of stores to be shuttered. Employees were notified that more than 30 Sears and Kmart locations will be closed in the early part of 2017. Florida, with seven Kmart stores slated for closing, and Kentucky,

NEW YORK — CVS Health’s delivery of value to health care stakeholders makes it a “partner of choice,” president and chief executive officer Larry Merlo said at the company’s Analyst Day. Notwithstanding all the changes occurring in health care, success will be determined by the ability to make care more affordable, accessible and effective, he

SEATTLE — Just 13 minutes after placing an order on Amazon.com, a customer in Cambridge, England, received the order — an Amazon Fire TV streaming device and a bag of popcorn — dropped at the customer’s doorstep by an autonomous drone, the first such delivery for the company. Amazon’s chief executive officer, Jeff Bezos, confirmed

ARLINGTON, Va. — German discount grocer Lidl is preparing to open its first stores in the United States in late 2017 or 2018. The company has launched a recruiting drive and is looking for store sites in eastern states from Pennsylvania to South Carolina as well as Texas. Lidl, which is part of the privately

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big Lots Inc. is getting a makeover. The discount and closeout retailer said it has teamed up with two local marketing firms to come out with a new look. Working with Big Red Rooster out of Columbus and Alloy out of Westerville, Ohio, Big Lots is seeking to provide a new shopping